Sen. McCain, instead of using his absence an excuse for not passing a decent healthcare bill, use it as inspiration to rise above, and do what's best for us all. Country first, right?
@dreamweave: I think his point is valid, though, and it's hard for McCain to take the place of Ted Kennedy because of the obvious political differences. The Democrats really were lucky to have someone so just darn good at politics on their side, and someone from the other party shouldn't be at to fill the void.
@schweppes: I hear you, and would be willing to give McCain more credit if he seemed to be working toward passing a good bill, rather than playing party like everyone else. I definitely didn't mean to imply that I expect McCain to be the new Kennedy, but I also think it's important to remember that despite his political family, Kennedy didn't just wake up one day with all that savvy - he worked damn hard at it, very intentionally.
This made me tear up and I'm not even hormonal at the moment. I really hope that politicians can acknowledge that he was a good legislator and honor him by having civilized debates. I won't hold my breath, but it would be nice.
@luxamnesiac: This is was almost as hard for me as watching Andy Rooney tear up over Walter Cronkite. I can only hope that if I'm lucky enough to be be that old, I will have people that care that much about me when I'm gone.
@SomeAuthorGirl: I see that... frankly if I see either of them... I may find myself renouncing my stricture against violence and ripping them out of people's hand and giving them vicious paper cuts.
@NefariousNewt: I see paper cuts as something that the PAPER does to the holder, so I don't think that even you trying to get the paper from them would make you an agent of violence if they happened to be cut.
@badmutha: Except that after I ripped them from their hypocritical and ignorant hands, I would then use them to inflict further vicious cuts to things like jugular veins.
@TheFormerJuneBronson: Me too. I was thinking the morning that the best strategy now is to shame all the squabbling assholes into voting for health care by using Kennedy's name and legacy. Just like LBJ did with JFK and civil rights legislation.
@cantankasaurus rex: My thought as well. But you KNOW there will be those that said "He was a murderer! An alcoholic! Blah blah blah." These are the same people who are calling Obama Hitler, right?
@AuntieBee: I don't see why Republicans in Congress would feel shamed. They don't denounce their supporters at the town halls (or at the Tea Parties last spring) and in some cases they even go along with it. They have no shame.
@SarahMC: I tend to agree, and some are so vehemently opposed to anything that Obama supports, I can see GOP members stalling just for shits and giggles.
Thankfully, I don't have the time today to obsess about Gaza like I did on Saturday (see: that thread!), but I will add this to the mix:
It's not even like Israel HAD to declare Gaza a closed military zone. Israel has controlled Gaza's borders since 1967, and since the 2005 withdrawal, has essentially treated them like a noose, to tighten or loosen a bitty-smidge, at will. No one and nothing goes in or out without Israeli military say so, down to and including the plastic bags which the international food agencies use to distribute emergency food to the hundreds of thousands of Gazans who are hungry. And if that's not occupation, I don't fucking know what is.
And just to clarify, for all those who skipped Saturday and/or are foaming at the mouth right now: I'm Israeli-American Jewish, lived in Tel Aviv for 14 years, witnessed Hamas terrorism up close and personal, go back to visit at least once a year, and am an active member of a Conservative shul outside of Chicago. And am married to a Jerusalemite, to boot.
@ellaesther: It sucks that you have to add that last paragraph to justify your sane and thoughtful analysis. :( Although so many people profess universalism, they seem to find it hard to put it into practice; it's the tendency to assert ownership of the issue ("My friends! My family!") that is impeding a rational discussion about the Middle East, in my view, not some ancient grudge. Good, old-fashioned, human stubbornness is at the heart of it.
@PilgrimSoul: Sigh, I know. I do it all the time, though, because it just seems the wiser course.... (And thank you for your kind words!)
Yesterday, my husband (the Jerusalemite!) was fulminating about how sick he is of people needing to say that they condemn Hamas, when a) duh, and b) the power imbalance is so insane. How much he wishes people could just talk about that, because that is the salient fact.
@ellaesther: I wholeheartedly agree with you on 99% of your points. I too am Jewish and lived in Israel for a year. The only thing that bothers me about your post is that yes, Israel is culpable in blocking aid to the residents in Gaza, but so is the Palestinian leadership. Look at Arafat...look at how he squandered so much aid money to benefit himself. Otherwise, I agree.
@JennyJazz: Well, I guess I feel like that falls into what my husband was complaining about yesterday.
Sure, the Palestinians have been saddled with/have saddled themselves with truly terrible leaders over the years. Absolutely, no argument from me.
But the damage done to Palestinian society, infrastructure, families, culture, etc, etc, not to mention sheer number of dead by Israeli hands is so enormous that Palestinian culpability positively pales in comparison. And we (Israel and America in this case) often just compound the problem.
Arafat is a great example, in fact: By the time that Israel had Arafat under siege, he was deeply, deeply unpopular. But one sure way to make a hero out of someone is to trap him in his home and shell it -- virtually no Palestinian would have been willing to turn on him under those circumstances. (Look at the Democrats on this very site who said "Hey, I hate Bush, but no one throws a shoe at my President!" Then imagine you're Palestinian, and it's Arafat).
Oh, and in an aside, Arafat wasn't personally corrupt. He used aid to hold on to power, but not to buy fancy cars or whatever. It's a very small point, I know, but I'm a geek, so these things come out.
Anyway, didn't I say I wouldn't obsess about this today...? I'm a liar.
Also, just to get back on the Condi crazy train for a second, I know they've been trying this whole legacy spin but she should know that history really isn't big on talking points (especially these days when we're actually looking at more than just what some old white dudes from Europe said about things).
Way to sell a woman candidacy by saying stupid, sexist things, Caroline. How bout this, sweets? Why don't you keep raising money for NYC schools and being generally rich and out of touch? I don't want my non-appointed Guv (who I like) giving you a Senate seat. Oh and maybe try and say you would support the DEMOCRAT for mayor?? I mean we all know you're in Bloomie's pocket...but that dude ran as a Republican, you'll recall.
Next time maybe try doing your civic duty first and VOTING...which you neglected to do even when it was for the seat you want. Oh also, Carolyn Maloney is a much much better choice than you. MUCH.
@bluebears: and she had no idea! She's only donated to Hillary (before her endorsement of Obama) and then has never really donated to Democrats in the state. Not to mention she didn't vote for Patrick Moynihan! Whose seat she now wants! ARGH!
@SinisterRouge: the irritating part is that you know she's still gonna get the seat. the complaints of the unwashed masses are like white noise to her and other power brokers in government.
@bluebears: But is Gov. Paterson a power broker? I'm not so sure... I think he might consider her campaigning for this as a negative, and that might tip the nod away from her.
@SinisterRouge: 100% co-sign! Seriously, somebody at the Times needs to wake up and be like, "what the hell? why is this even a serious suggestion?" Political office should not be treated like a birthright. Her whole "campaign" has been enormously offensive to me.
@PilgrimSoul: and I like her! She is ruining it!So offensive. Seriously I don't care who your Dad was or how beloved your mother was or anything of the sort. Run for office. You don't get to go from private citizen to Senator by your last name only. There are many others that have worked their way up the ranks.
@SinisterRouge: Yes, I liked her too. But do I support her candidacy? No. I was on the fence at first and reserved judgment but at this point she is not getting my support. Like it would even matter, as this is by appointment.
08/26/09
08/26/09
We had and continue to have an urgent need for some sort of health care reform. And it makes me sad that Ted won't be around to see it.
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To put it in Jezebel terms: I feel "stabby."
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12/29/08
It's not even like Israel HAD to declare Gaza a closed military zone. Israel has controlled Gaza's borders since 1967, and since the 2005 withdrawal, has essentially treated them like a noose, to tighten or loosen a bitty-smidge, at will. No one and nothing goes in or out without Israeli military say so, down to and including the plastic bags which the international food agencies use to distribute emergency food to the hundreds of thousands of Gazans who are hungry. And if that's not occupation, I don't fucking know what is.
And just to clarify, for all those who skipped Saturday and/or are foaming at the mouth right now: I'm Israeli-American Jewish, lived in Tel Aviv for 14 years, witnessed Hamas terrorism up close and personal, go back to visit at least once a year, and am an active member of a Conservative shul outside of Chicago. And am married to a Jerusalemite, to boot.
12/29/08
12/29/08
Yesterday, my husband (the Jerusalemite!) was fulminating about how sick he is of people needing to say that they condemn Hamas, when a) duh, and b) the power imbalance is so insane. How much he wishes people could just talk about that, because that is the salient fact.
12/29/08
12/29/08
Sure, the Palestinians have been saddled with/have saddled themselves with truly terrible leaders over the years. Absolutely, no argument from me.
But the damage done to Palestinian society, infrastructure, families, culture, etc, etc, not to mention sheer number of dead by Israeli hands is so enormous that Palestinian culpability positively pales in comparison. And we (Israel and America in this case) often just compound the problem.
Arafat is a great example, in fact: By the time that Israel had Arafat under siege, he was deeply, deeply unpopular. But one sure way to make a hero out of someone is to trap him in his home and shell it -- virtually no Palestinian would have been willing to turn on him under those circumstances. (Look at the Democrats on this very site who said "Hey, I hate Bush, but no one throws a shoe at my President!" Then imagine you're Palestinian, and it's Arafat).
Oh, and in an aside, Arafat wasn't personally corrupt. He used aid to hold on to power, but not to buy fancy cars or whatever. It's a very small point, I know, but I'm a geek, so these things come out.
Anyway, didn't I say I wouldn't obsess about this today...? I'm a liar.
12/29/08
--Condoleeza Rice
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12/29/08
Yeah. Cuz that worked out really well for Johnson.
12/29/08
Next time maybe try doing your civic duty first and VOTING...which you neglected to do even when it was for the seat you want. Oh also, Carolyn Maloney is a much much better choice than you. MUCH.
Oh
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